Posted in 
Previous: 
: 
10 Things Your Primary Care Doctor Does That Should Make You Run for the Hills
Sign In >>
Dr. Orrange received her BA in Biology at the University of California, San Diego, and a Masters Degree in Health Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. She received her MD from the USC Keck School of…
FAST FACTS
Advertisement
Cheers! 8 Ways Alcohol is Your Friend
Alcohol use is a difficult paradox for physicians. You can use it safely, and it may improve health, but heavy alcohol results in catastrophic complications wreaking havoc on people’s lives. As you will see, the diseases that moderate alcohol use prevents are common in older adults, so that age group should take seriously the recommendations for a drink a night.
So how can alcohol be your friend?
- Dr. O
So how can alcohol be your friend?
1. First, know what a “standard” drink is. In the United States a drink is a 12 ounce beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof liquor.Cheers!
2. Coronary Artery Disease: Prevention of coronary artery disease is the best argument for alcohol use. It is indisputable that light to moderate alcohol use decreases the risk of coronary artery disease by 40 to 70%.
3. Stroke: It is also well accepted that light to moderate intake of alcohol is associated with a lower risk of ischemic stroke.
4. Heart failure: Light to moderate use of alcohol is protective against the development of heart failure. Realize here that chronic heavy alcohol use causes alcoholic cardiomyopathy but moderate use is protective.
5. Type II Diabetes: Risk is decreased in people with moderate alcohol consumption
6. Evidence increasingly suggests that light to moderate drinking is protective against dementia.
7. Peripheral vascular disease: Again, light to moderate use of alcohol lowers your risk for developing peripheral vascular disease.
8. Death: Total mortality is lower for men who drink 1-2 drinks a night and women who drink 1 drink a night compared to no or minimal alcohol use.
- Dr. O
RELATED FROM AROUND THE WEB
RELATED POSTS
MORE ARTICLES
CATEGORIES:
Tips
CONDITIONS AND COMMUNITIES:
Coronary Heart Disease
•
Diets & Weight Maintenance
•
Healthy Eating
•
Heart Attack
•
Heart Failure
•
High Cholesterol
•
Other Heart Problems
MEMBER COMMENTS
TOTAL COMMENTS: 4
-
View All Comments »
Add a Comment
Displaying comments 4-1 of 4
Got a Question?
POPULAR POSTS
Coronary Heart Disease
(215 Discussion Topics)
(215 Discussion Topics)
Diets & Weight Maintenance
(8,427 Discussion Topics)
(8,427 Discussion Topics)
Healthy Eating
(825 Discussion Topics)
(825 Discussion Topics)
Heart Attack
(779 Discussion Topics)
(779 Discussion Topics)
Heart Failure
(673 Discussion Topics)
(673 Discussion Topics)
High Cholesterol
(330 Discussion Topics)
(330 Discussion Topics)
Other Heart Problems
(89 Discussion Topics)
(89 Discussion Topics)
As an adult child of an alcoholic, I see nothing positive with alcohol... not preaching... just me living the experiences of alcohol throughout my life...
Jail, divorce, fights, incest, anger, rage... nothing good with alcohol
But chocolate liquor, well, that's another story. So for my health I should have a shot a night? This will be an interesting thing to talk to my wife about!